Cabinet nod to National Digital Communications Policy-2018

NewDelhi : The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018) and re-designation of the Telecom Commission as the “Digital Communications Commission”. The new policy will replace the existing National Telecom Policy 2012.

The NDCP-2018 envisions supporting India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society by fulfilling the information and communications needs of citizens and enterprises by establishment of a ubiquitous, resilient and affordable digital communications infrastructure and services.

Objectives:

The key objectives of the policy are:

Broadband for all;

Creating four million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector;

Enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India’s GDP from ~ 6% in 2017;

Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;

Enhancing India’s contribution to Global Value Chains; and

Ensuring Digital Sovereignty.

These objectives are to be achieved by 2022.

Features:

The policy aims to

Provide universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen;

Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022;